Elections

[pennswoods]

Well done Canada. Fuck Trump and his 51st state bullshit.

As an aside, in a few weeks, the annual conference for the Computer Assisted Language Instruction Consortium is taking place in San Diego, California. It is usually held in the US but sometimes in Canada (like Montreal in 2019). While a number of European colleague will be attending despite trepidation around bullshit at customs, almost no Canadian colleagues* are coming in person and instead will be presenting online. They are that united and determined to not spend a penny in a country that is threatening their sovereignty. 

*The one I know who is coming lost her husband suddenly last November (he was only 65) and is traveling as much as possible during this first year without him. 

Comments

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

Good first steps. You might also look into holding future events in Canada.

Re: Thoughts

[pennswoods]

I'm sure the board will look into that if they can find a local university host/organize it. They only go where they are sponsored and UC San Diego bid to host this one. Next year is supposed to be Miami University, Ohio, but I'm not sure what the future of higher education in the US is going to look like in the next few years and how much money, if any, academics in the foreign languages will have for travel to conferences.

Re: Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I'm sure the board will look into that if they can find a local university host/organize it. They only go where they are sponsored and UC San Diego bid to host this one. <<

Good luck with it.

>> Next year is supposed to be Miami University, Ohio, but I'm not sure what the future of higher education in the US is going to look like in the next few years and how much money, if any, academics in the foreign languages will have for travel to conferences.<<

*toilet flush noise*

[mundungus42]

(oooo are you going?? wanna meet up?? DM if yes to both. I know. Wrong question, wrong time, but life is short and friends are important.)

I'm fiercely gladdened by Canada's election results and the repudiation of Trumpism. I hope it spreads worldwide. The fact that international scholars are skipping meetings in liberal bell-weather California, specifically the vibrant cross-border economy of San Diego, just shows how much that garbage human and his corrupt cronies have tarnished our international reputation and pose a very real threat to the life and liberty of all.

[pennswoods]

Wait, am I going to be in your neighborhood? I would love to meet? I am arriving in the evening on the 27 and departing on the 1st. There is much conferencing going on in there and also hanging out with silly non-Canadian friends.

Yes, Canada is pissed. Greenland is pissed. So is Denmark. Much of the EU is just disgusted. Life is going to get very difficult for us in the US but it's the right thing that people in other countries protect themselves. The US under Trump and his ilk is a virus that needs to be contained.

[mundungus42]

YES! You'll be at [other university] but it's maybe a 20 minute drive from Chez 42 and is on a trolley line. I'm singing a couple of very fun Master Chorale concerts on the afternoons of the 31st and the 1st but will otherwise be at liberty to swing by where you'll be if you don't mind a random local crashing the non-conferencey bits, and I'm up for shenanigans of most stripes. When schedules become more known, let me know. I'd love to see you!!

I know things are going to get worse for us here in the US before they get better. Until then, we hold fast, model the compassion we want to see in the world, and do what we can to protect the vulnerable. Hugs and solidarity.